Posted by MikeK on 4/30/2008, 1:44 pm |
- Really depends on what's causing it..msg
Posted by D~ (D) on 4/30/2008, 2:39 pm, in reply to "BTW: whats a good ear wash / cleaner? msg"
as to how to treat it. If it's just build up/dirty ears I like EpiOtic (has a drying cleaning agent in it, I don't drip it in tho I put it on swabs, lasts forever)..and I just got some swabs that you use to apply the 'medication' it's herbal (you break the tip and only use one end) called Veterinarian's Best...then use regular swabs along with it if there is debris.
Does it look like coffee grounds? or just waxy? - Sometimes I just don't know anymore. msg
Posted by MikeK on 5/1/2008, 12:28 am, in reply to "Really depends on what's causing it..msg"
Her nose bleeds are always my main concern they have caused her so much grief the last few years on and off. I sometimes think this itching is psychosomatic with all the fuss I have been giving her with this nose stuff. I am getting so many opinions and in put from other groups I honestly am just at a loss sometimes. Some people say it's the meds, other the food. Some say it's environmental, yadda, yadda. I have tons of paper work, charts and info and I am still kind of at a loss with her strange medical issues. I have changed her diet to Merrick foods and this new in door cat food. Trying to avoid the rice and so on but it's hard to find in hard food. With four cats that like different stuff you can't segregate the food. Maybe allergies (food) related itching? Gesh, Working all afternoon and part time weekends I just seem like I am limiting my time with them but at the same time I am doing it for them too. I am no longer going to the big vet place out of town anymore because my in-house bill is at it's limits. Till then it's self help and so on. But I do plan to call Cornell next week. Anyway, thanks! - I'm sorry Mike, you're dealing with a lot..msg
Posted by D~ (D) on 5/1/2008, 4:53 pm, in reply to "Sometimes I just don't know anymore. msg"
and a lot of unknowns too. Why do you suspect rice, it's not usually culprit...corn moreover than rice. It is very hard to find dry food w/o it and to deal with other kitties when you have special food needs ones.
Wellness canned has no grains at all in it, that's what I feed for canned here. Food allergies can certainly cause itching but so can a zillion other things. One way to test for the food/treat is to take away the other food and give only one protein and one carb, very simple foods but if she's doing better overall you may not want to risk another food change. Sometimes it's the added ingredients in foods, esp. dry look at the labels and go with the simplest you can find. Environmental I would suggest washing whatever she sleeps on hot water and in a very mild detergent (you can even use Ivory dish soap or baby soap...though unscented product would be best)...keep away from chemical use in the house of anykind, get an air cleaner for the room she's in the most, those sorts of things. Rugs and furniture can often harbor dust mites and mold and other things, if you can steam clean them w/a safe non toxic product that's a good thing to try too.
As for the meds they can cause problems, but unless she's having an allergic reaction or very dry skin because of them (is she dehyrdated?)..it's hard to tell. Maybe she needs a little more oil in her diet. I'm hesitant to suggest Omega 3 because it can decrease platelet aggregation and she already had bleeding problems but maybe just a tiny bit of light olive or canola oil in her diet might help her skin and coat. Don't know, just ideas.
((((HUGS)))) and continuing prayers, please post updates as you can. Whatever you use in her ears keep it mild and only do as much as necessary...they can get very dry and even swabs can cause little tears in the skin and just make matters worse. If you see coffee ground like crumbs in there you might have mites otherwise if it's just dark greasy or waxy you probably don't.
She might benefit from a tiny dose of some pred but that's a slippery slope to be on esp with her other conditions and meds and I don't know what the vet has ever said to you about that but it can help with overall problems unforunatley it can create others at the same time
...maybe an antihistamine might help....things to ask about anyway.
